Wakefield Cathedral’s peregrine chicks are ‘bemused’ by their fame

Charlie Bullough

You can now watch live footage of Wakefield Cathedral’s four peregrine chicks.

Streaming of the chicks’ adventures began last Friday through the Wakefield Naturalists’ Society (WNS) website.

Among their first live appearances was being fitted with identification rings last Saturday.

WNS president John Gardner, said the birds, which were born at Easter, were carefully removed from their nestbox on the spire and were ringed within 30 minutes to keep disturbance to a minimum.

Photographer Mr Gardner, who took this picture, said: “The chicks weren’t caused any distress. They just seemed bemused by the process and were inquisitive.

“They kept calling now and again, which kept the parent birds interested and to let them know they were there.

“They took it in their stride and were put back in the nest. Within half an hour the parent birds were back in the nest.”

The metallic rings from the British Trust for Ornithology were placed on the right leg. Each ring contains a unique reference code, which allows the birds origins to be traced if they are recaptured or found dead elsewhere.

More visible rings, known as Darvic rings, are planned to be fitted late on Thursday afternoon. These will go on the left leg. The plastic Darvic rings are much bigger than the metallic rings and can be easily seen through binoculars and telescopes.

To see more pictures from last Saturday’s ringing session, please see this Friday’s Wakefield Express.